1995 Volvo 960 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Volvo 960, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1419.2%
- Fuel system912.3%
- Driver assistance811.0%
- Brakes79.6%
- Airbags56.8%
- Seat belts56.8%
- Heating & air conditioning45.5%
- Steering45.5%
- Tires & wheels34.1%
- Electrical34.1%
- Interior & seats34.1%
- Body & structure22.7%
- Suspension22.7%
- Visibility22.7%
- Transmission22.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL RAIL LEAKING GASOLINE ON ENGINE. SMELL INSIDE CABIN MAKING ME SICK. GARAGE SMELLED AS WELL. AFTER DRIVING, THE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ENGINE FAILED . AS A RESULT, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 960. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTREMELY STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,289. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF UPDATED 07/28/11
IN EARLY MORNING COLD STARTUPS, THERE ARE GAS FUMES THAT ARE PRESENT. THEY EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I KNOW THERE MUST BE A FUEL LEAK ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. *TR
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 960. WHILE PULLING INTO HER DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO HER GARAGE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE DESCRIBED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 150,000.
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT ACCELERATED FROM ZERO TO 40 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A WALL. IT WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO STATED THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A PROBLEM WITHIN THE ENGINE. *AK UPDATED 12/16/2005 - THE DEALER LATER FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRIMPED END AT THE THROTTLE VALVE. AS A RESULT THE CABLE HOUSING HAD SLID OUT AND WAS HANGING UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN IN GEAR. *NM
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AND WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. ON A LATER TRIP THE SAME DAY THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY WENT FROM 30 MPH TO 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITH BRAKING AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 4000RPM, IN PARK IT SLOWED CLOSER TO IDLE. ONCE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN, IT THEN ONCE AGAIN BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING A RUMBLING AND PULSATING NOISE APPEARED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AND BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO FUNCTION. DEALER CONTACTED ,AND STATED THAT THE DRUMS WERE WARPED DUE TO NORMAL DRIVING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
SRS LIGHT IS ON AND DOESN'T TURN OFF. IT IS PART OF A RECALL. *TR UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB
BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS IN MY 1995 960 VOLVO STATION WAGON DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY AS I WAS BACKING OUT A DRIVEWAY AT 2 - 3 MPH. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY DOESN'T PULL OUT FROM ITS HOLDING ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED 1/4/99. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME FOR 8 WEEKS THAT NO REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLES ARE AVAILABLE.
REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE BROKEN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S HEATED SEATS HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS BOTH HEATERS UNDER THE FRONT SEATS HAVE SHORTED OUT AFTER BURNING. SCC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING ARM FAILURE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRING RESULTED IN A FIRE; ALSO ALARM/ EMISSION CONTROL/DEVICES/FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER DISCOVERED A 4 INCH GASH ON INNER SIDEWALL OF PIRELLI TIRE. TIRE SIZE P205/55R/16. *AK THE TIRES SIDEWALL BLEWOUT. *NM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN APPROXIMATELY A 12" SECTION OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND HIT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE ONE TIRE REPLACED AND WAS CHARGED A PRO-RATED AMOUNT, HOWEVER I STILL HAVE 3 OF THE SAME TIRES ON THE CAR( DOT NUMBER: A3T2 3E6 TIRE SIZE: P205/55R16 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 8 HRS WHEN THE FIRE STARTED IN THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY/FUEL PUMP. CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND CAR WAS TOTALED. PICTURES ARE DEVASTATING TO LOOK AT. *AK
SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRING RESULTED IN A FIRE; ALSO ALARM/ EMISSION CONTROL/DEVICES/FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 8/31/2002 MY 1995 VOLVO 950 WAS HIT AT THE LEFT REAR END WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVEL EAST BOUND ON HIGHWAY 60 IN CALIFORNIA, STOPPING DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITION AHEAD. DURING THE REAR END COLLISION IMPACT, THE SEATBACKS OF BOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED REARWARD. WE SUFFERED ARM, NECK, SHOULDER, AND BACK INJURIES BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SEATBACK SUPPORTS. DURING THE COLLISION THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHER WINDOWS, EXCEPT THE LEFT REAR ONE, REMAINED INTACT. WE WERE LUCKY NOT HAVING MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. COLLAPSE OF SEATBACKS REARWARD WOULD HAVE CAUSED MORE SERIOUS INJURIES, OR EVEN DEATH. DT
VANITY MIRROR SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CAR IS A 1995 960 MODEL VOLVO, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THE LEATHER STARTED PULLING AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS ON ALL FOUR DOORS. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIX , BUT CANNOT FIND ANYONE THAT IS WILLING TO FIX IT. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS *TR
THE AIR GUIDE, SPOILER AND SENSOR ARE NOT DESIGNED OR MOUNTED CORRECTLY TO WITHSTAND LIMITED DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS, THE AIR GUIDE AND SPOILER HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VANITY MIRROR SHORTS OUT.
OXIDATION IN STEERING WHEEL; CLUCKING IN FRONT END WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL; SUSPENSION REPLACED; PROBLEM STILL EXIST. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTO KEY ENTRY FAILED.
VANITY MIRROR SHORTS OUT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VANITY MIRROR SHORTS OUT.
PARKING PAWL WHICH LOCKS THE VEHICLE IN IS BROKE IF IN PARK CAN NOT MOVE THE SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TT DEALER TEMPORARILY DISCONNECTED THE SHIFT LOCK OVER RIDE MECHANISM SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE OPERABLE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .